SILAS MARNER FROM MY GRAND PA'S FIRE PLACE STORIES.

My Grand Pa was a great story teller.

Almost on all evenings,we sat next to him to listen to his pearls of wisdom.One of the major reasons for these evening get togethers was -that he invariably gave us some 'guddies' to eat. He took these out of his coat pockets - like rabbits emerging one after another ! In winters when we had snow,we sat next to the fire place.Grand pa would take command and control burning of  logs meticulously. 

He covered potatoes by hot ash & gave these to us one by one. With our mouths literally burning,we loved it all.There was no time to add butter or sprinkle salt.We were always in a great hurry.

It was done with astonishing fairness.We were all his favourites.

Whether it was a bitter winter or a hot summer, he always wore a suit or a jacket with a tie .We loved his dangling silver 'West End Pocket Watch'. It was neatly tucked inside his waist coat pocket by a thick silver chain.Today,I am the proud possessor of these items.The watch is working beautifully & I get it serviced in New Delhi every alternate year.

He was an extremely learned person. A self made man- an extremely successful Advocate - who reached pinnacles of fame & glory.He spoke & wrote impeccable English. His handwriting was just like tablet writing & his letters to us were a treat to go through.

He very often spoke to us about The Indian Press Series of School Classics.The book that he talked that evening was SILAS MARNER. Looking towards me he asked, " Who is the Author". 

With boyish alacrity I replied " George Idiot- a great man -father of Eppie".

He burst out laughing.He told us that ,firstly,it was George Eliot & NOT George Idiot and,secondly, George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans- a great lady novelist of the Victorian Era.The basic reason of  having a man's  pen name was ,as she perceived was ,that people would take her compositions seriously.Another reason behind this             was ,perhaps, she wanted to shield her private life from public glare.

We were simply surprised when he told us that the famous book SUKHDAS was adaptation of SILAS MARNER by Munshi Prem Chand. He had met him at Allahabad on a number of occasions.He was a modest man with frugal habits but a great writer & intellectual - he said.

I saw my Grand Pa alive last in November 1965.He died a year later.

As I look back,I remember his story sessions & miss them.

Hopefully,one day my grand children shall sit around me & listen to my stories. But I have to be a good story teller!

But, will they have patience,interest  & inclination to do so ?